The Ministry of the Interior is currently encountering increasing concerns following reports that the rent allowances promised to personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have not been fully disbursed, despite previous assurances.
On 2 March 2026, the Ministry announced that the government had released funds to settle the outstanding 2025 rent allowance arrears owed to the personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and Ghana Prisons Service. Furthermore, the Ministry stated that, effective March 2026, rent allowance payments would be automated and disbursed along with officers’ monthly salaries to prevent future delays.
Prior to this announcement, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak indicated that rent allowances for Fire Service personnel would be paid concurrently with their monthly salaries, while efforts were made to clear the backlog of arrears.
However, numerous personnel within the affected services have continued to express concerns, claiming that payments have either been delayed or have not been received as anticipated. This situation has led to dissatisfaction among some officers who rely on the allowance to fulfill their housing and rental commitments.
In April 2026, the Ministry was obliged to issue a separate clarification regarding concerns over deductions from rent allowance payments. The Ministry explained that it does not possess the authority to deduct taxes from the allowances and clarified that the deductions were made at the source by the Ministry of Finance in accordance with existing tax laws.
The issue has reignited discussions about the welfare of frontline security personnel, particularly firefighters who continue to work under demanding and hazardous conditions while relying on allowances and other benefits to supplement their income. Analysts and personnel groups have called for greater transparency and consistency in the payment of statutory entitlements to ensure morale and operational efficiency within the security services.
ISES urges all stakeholders to ensure greater accountability, transparency, and effective coordination with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies to facilitate the timely payment of all outstanding allowances and entitlements to the personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service.
As frontline emergency responders, firefighters deserve the prompt fulfillment of their welfare obligations to enable them to perform their duties with dedication, confidence, and peace of mind.
#ISES News Desk
